Anchors Aweigh: Farewell to summer 🛥️☀️

⏰ Midwest Minute 

Ah, the bittersweet end of Midwest lake life as we reluctantly say goodbye to the long summer days spent on the water. As the boats get pulled from the lakes and the docks start to empty, it’s hard not to think about the iconic Great Lakes and the history of the “Unsalted Coast”. For many Midwesterners, this time of year brings to mind not just sunsets and bonfires but also "Edmund Fitzgerald season." The legendary freighter, which sank in Lake Superior in 1975, has become a symbol of the sometimes treacherous waters. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its sinking, swimmers can participate in a 411-mile relay swim from Lake Superior to Detroit. It's even commemorated with a beer by Great Lakes Brewing Co.—a toasty porter perfect for warming up as the chill creeps in. There are over 6,000 shipwrecks scattered across the Great Lakes, with an estimated value of $2B in lost cargo. Many of these sunken ships are now popular dive sites, and Lake Superior's cold, fresh water has preserved most of those wrecks.

Post-Labor Day signals more than just the close of the season; it’s a shift in mood. The lakes, which bustled with summer energy, are starting to reflect the quieter nature of fall. For those lucky enough to experience "boat-out" day, there’s a sense of tradition when it’s the end of boating season. While you’re at it—plan a fall Great Lakes roadtrip along the way. So before you pack away your life vests and officially close out the summer season, make sure to spend the last few days of summer out on the lake!

Diving right the latest announcements. Carmel’s MBX Biosciences filed to go public. Traverse City, MI saw some action with a $15M round for ATLAS Space Operations. Chicago’s Foxtrot is officially reopening a location following their abrupt closure in April. It was a slower past few weeks due to the Labor Day holiday, but you can find more of the latest below. Extra: What we’re listening to this week! The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Have any insights into the Midwest ecosystem or a funding announcement to share? Want to share your favorite place in the Midwest to enjoy the rest of the summer? Send us an email: [email protected] 

📰 Notable News

Exits

• Carmel, IN-based MBX Biosciences filed for $100M IPO

Startup Funding

• ATLAS Space Operations - $15M round led by NewSpace Capital | Traverse City, MI

• HabiTerre - $10M Series A led by John Deere | Champaign

• DubClub - $7.5M Series A led by Renegade Partners | Chicago

• Swan - $6M Seed led by Andreessen Horowitz | Pittsburgh

• Champion - $3.3M Seed led by Flyover Capital | Indianapolis

• TEAMology - $1.2M Seed led by VC 414 | State College, PA

Other News

• ICYMI - We dropped our annual Best of the Midwest: Startup City Rankings last month!

• 10-year shift: Founding managing director of Endeavor Midwest to step down

• Health care execs launch venture capital firm

• Biotech’s top 10 most active VC investors

• Foxtrot to reopen first location this week after abrupt closures

📆 Mark your Calendar

Need to fill your social calendar? We’ve scoured newsletters, scanned LinkedIn and found some of the latest tech + startup events in the region. Know of any upcoming events and want to share them? Send us an email: [email protected]